Folding box.



No. 687,704. Patented Nov. 26, "90!.

J. UNSER. FOLDING BOX. (Application filed Aug. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

lave/3101 THE mums PETERS co. momuruo. WASHINGTON, n -:v

PATENT rriCE.

JOHN UNSER, OF OARTHAGE, NEIV YORK.

FOLDING BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 687,704, dated November26, 1901.

Application filed August 17,1900. Serial No. 27,157. (No model.)

$0 all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, JOHN UNSER, a citizen of the United States, residingat Carthage, in the count-y of Jefferson and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvementsin Folding Boxes; and I doherebydeclare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to a novel construction in folding boxes;and it consists in the features of construction hereinafter describedand specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of the blank fromwhich my box is formed, the scoring between the panels and flaps beingshown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a top View of said blank with the flapsfolded upon their respective panels. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing inaddition the cover-panel .folded upon the back panel. Fig. 4 is asimilar View showing in addition the front panel folded upon the bottompanel. Fig. 5 is a top view of the box folded into a flat packet andencircled by the strap-handle. Fig. 6 is a transverse section throughone of the rivets on the ends of the flaps of the bottom panel. Fig. '7is a front view of the fastener on the end of the strap-handle. tiveview of the box when set up, showing the handle attached thereto.

The blank composing my box consists of a bottom panel A, with end flapsa a flexibly connected to the ends thereof, a front panel B, with flapsb b, a back panel C, with flaps c c, and a cover-panel D, with flaps (Zd and a front flap at. 'These panels are flexibly connected, as shown inthe drawings. Between each of the panels is a double line of scoring,the two lines of scoring between the panels A and C it being preferablya greater distance from each other than the lines of scoring between theother panels. The scoring between the panel Fig. Sis a perspec-- panelsshould also be tapered or cut away fromthe respective panels toward theouter ends of the flaps, although it is not necessary to cut them awayin the particular forms shown in the drawings.

It is desirable that the end flaps of the back panel should be scoredsubstantially in the manner shown in the drawings, and that the endflaps of the cover should also be scored, so as to correspond with thescoring of the end flaps of the back panel. This method of scoring is ofadvantage, inasmuch .as when the box is set up the end flaps of thecover fit into the indentation in the end flaps of the back and areflushwith the same instead of overlapping them.

The panels and flaps may be made ofleather, cloth, paper, or any othersuitable material, and the panels maybe flexibly joined with each otherand the flaps flexibly connected to the panels in anysuitable way. Insome instances it may be desirable to make the entire box out of asingle piece of material, weakening or scoring the lines between thedifferent panels and between the panelsand the flaps, and in other casesit may be desirable to make the panels and flaps of separate pieces andflexibly to connect them. in any suitable way.

In the median line and near the outer ends of the flapsa a of the bottompanel are inserted buttons or rivets E E for the purpose hereinafterdescribed. These may be of any suitable form; but I prefer to use rivetsof the construction shown in the drawings and hereinafter described.These consist of a rivet E, having a head E, and at the oppositeendprojections suitable to be turned back to fasten the rivet in place.1

e is a sleeve which is adapted to fit over 5 l the shank of the rivetand against the inner side of the head. This sleeve is of slightly lesslength than the shank of the rivet.

6' is a washer adapted to fit over the shank a will therefore restagainst the inner end of the sleeve 6. The washer e is then slipped overthe end of the rivet-shank and is pressed against the inner wall of theflap. The free end of the rivet-shank is then headed or bent out andagainst the washer and is secured in that position, thus clamping theflap between the washer e and the sleeve 6. It is evident that if theshank-bodyitself be made of greater diameter near the head and of lessdiameter near the face the result will be substantially the same as if aseparable sleeve be slipped upon the shank. This method of fastening theshanks of buttons or rivets to various substance may be applied to otherarticles than the flaps of my box, and in some of these instances it maynot be necessary to have a head on the end of the shank.

The flaps b b and c c of the front and back panels are provided neartheir outerends with perforations K K of a diameter slightly larger thanthat of the heads of the rivets attached to the flapsa a. Theseperforations are so located in the [laps of the front and back panelsthat when the box is set up these perforations are directly opposite therivets or buttons projecting from the flapsa, a. The said rivets arethen projected through the perforations K K of the flaps of the frontand back panels, thus holding said flaps t egether to constitute theends of the box and affording an opportunity of fastening to said rivetsthe fastener and handle hereinafter described. The rivet should be madeof such length that the head of the rivet will project slightly beyondthe outerwalls of the frontand back flaps when they are pushed upon therivet, as above described, but should not be made very much longer thanis necessary for this purpose. By sufficiently cutting away ortaperingthe flaps I of the front, back, and cover panels it will befound that when the said flaps are folded in and the panels folded oneupon another in collapsing the box and folding it into a common fiatpackage the said flaps will not interfere with the rivets which projectfrom the folded flaps a a. Thus the rivets will not prevent the box frombeing folded flatly and compactly.

Any suitable fastener or clip can be used for engaging with the end ofthe rivet after the front and back flaps have been folded upon saidrivet in setting up the box for the purpose of holding said flapstogether to constitute the ends of the box. I prefer, however, to usethe form of clip or fastener illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings,which I have shown attached to a strap or other flexible band which maybe used as the handle of the box. 11 is such flexible handle. Preferablyboth ends of such handle are provided with a frame F, in which is aslotffor part of its length of a width the same as the outer diameter ofthe shank of the rivet. At one portion, however, the walls of the slotare protruded, as shown atf, to a width corresponding with the diameterof the head of the rivet. The frame may be thus passed over the head ofthe rivet and then drawn down upon the rivet, so that the shank fitsclosely in the end of the slot f. To prevent undesired movement of therivet in this slot and the accidental disengagement of the rivettherefrom through the enlarged portion f of the slot, I

use a spring-tongue G, partially or fully fill-- ing the enlargedportion of the slotf. This spring-tongue may be pushed back to permit ofthe passage of the head of the rivet through the enlarged portion of theslot. WVhen the rivet is drawn into the end of the slot, however, thespring-tongue springs back into place, the end of the tongue restingagainst the side of the rivet, and thus preventing any undesiredmovement of the rivet in the slot. I provide the spring-tongue withafingerpiece g, by means of which the tongue may be readily lifted, soas to permit the rivet to be pushed back along the slot and removed fromthe frame altogether when desired. After the box has been set up, thefront and back flaps folded into place against the bottom flaps, and therivets E E projected through the perforations K K of the front and backflaps the opposite ends of the handle H are attached to the projectingrivets E E on the opposite ends of the box, thus securely holding thesides of the box in place and providing said box with a handle.Ialsointend that this handle shall be used as a band to encircle the boxwhen it is collapsed and folded into a flat package. In order that itmay answer this purpose, I provide the handle H with a headed rivet L,which may be made substantially the same as the rivet E, abovedescribed. This rivet L is preferably located near one end of thehandle, its exact location, however, being dependent upon the length ofthe band necessary to encircle the box when collapsed and folded. into apackage.

I will now describe the operation of setting up my folding box.Commencing with the blank, as shown in Fig. 1, the end flaps aare foldedinto a substantially vertical position. The back panel is then foldedinto a substantially vertical position, and the end flaps c c are foldedlaterally, so that the rivets E E will project through the openings K K.The front panel B is then folded up into position, and its end flaps b bare folded laterally, so that the rivets E E project through theperforations K K. The cover-panel is then folded into position on thetop of the box and its end side flaps bent down into position. Anysuitable catch (not shown) may be used for fastening the cover-flap d tothe front panel. The handle 11, with its frames ff, is then put intoposition over the rivets E E. By reason of the fact that the end flapsof the back panel are scored substantially as above described, so as topermit the end flaps of the cover to fit therein and to lie flush withthe end flaps of the back, the frames of the handle H may be madestraight, whereas if the end flaps of the cover folded over the endflaps of the back then .it would be necessary that the frame.

should be curved or bent, so as to pass around the end flaps of thecover and then engage with the rivet projecting through the end flaps ofthe back. To collapse the box, the springtongues G are lifted, theframes ff at the op- 2. The cover-panel, with its folded flaps, is

then folded upon the back panel, as shown in Fig. 3. The frontpanel,with its folded flaps, is then folded upon the bottom panel, asshown in Fig. 4.. The combined cover and back panels are then foldedupon the combined front and bottom panels, as shown in Fig. 5, thusforming a compact and flat package. The flexible handle H is then placedaround the package, and the frame on one end thereof is attached in themanner above described to the projecting rivet L.

It is to be noted that by cutting away or tapering the flaps the edgesof all theflaps when folded clear the double score-lines between thepanels and do not interfere with each other or with the panels whenfolding the box into aflat package. It is also apparent that thetapering or diagonal scoring of the front. and back panels convergingaway from the bottom panel permits the box to be set up for use withoutany interference of the different end flaps and panels, and also permitsthe folding of these panels and flaps into a fiat and compact packagewhen the box is collapsed without interference and without strain uponthe flexible connections between the different panels and between thepanels and the flaps. The converging away from the bottom panel of theend lines of. the front and back panels results in the completed boxwhen set up being of an upwardly-tapering shape, as shown in Fig. 8. Thecover-panel is therefore of smaller dimensions than the bottom panel,and in some cases one or more of the flaps on the cover may be omitted.In some instances the cover-panel may be omitted altogether. Theadvantages resulting from my construction are obvious, as are also theadvantages resulting from the construction of my detachable handle,which may also be used as a band, and of the frame at the end of thehandle, whereby the handle may be connected to the projecting rivets.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, bottom, andback panels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly tapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the end flapsto the front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel, substantially as and for the purposes above set forth.

2. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, bottom, andback panels, each of said panels having at each end flexiblyconnectedoutwardly-tapering end flaps, the ends of the front and back panelsconverging away from the bottom panel, and a coverpanel of smallerdimensions than the bottom panel; whereby said panels and flaps may beset up into an upwardly-tapering box, and collapsed and folded into aflat and compact parcel of no greater area than that of the bottompanel.

3. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, bottom, backand cover panels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-tapering end flaps the lines of connection of the end flaps tothe front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel, and the outer edge of the end flaps of the back panelbeing indented to correspond with the end flaps of the cover-panel andto permit the latter to fit into the indentation when the folding box isset up, substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.

4. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, back, andbottompanels, each of said panels havingflexi bly connected theretooutwardly-tapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the side flapsto the front and back panels being diagonal andconverging away from thebottom panel; and means for fastening together the end flaps of thefront, bottom and back panels when the boxis set up, substantially asand for the purposes above set forth.

5. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connecting front, back, andbottom panels each of saidpanels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-tapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the end flapsto the front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel, rivets secured to the flaps of the bottom panel near theends of said flaps, and perforations near the ends of the flaps of thefront and back panels adapted to receive the rivets on the flaps of thebottom panel, substantially as and for the purpose above set forth.

6. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, back, bottomand cover panels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardlytapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the end flaps tothe front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel; rivets secured to the flaps of the bottom panel near theends of said flaps, of perforations near the ends of the flap of thefront and back panels adapted to receive the rivets on the flaps of thebottom panel; and having the end flaps of the front, back and coverpanels cut away, whereby when the said folding box is collapsed andfolded into a flat package, the said end flaps of the front, back andcover IIC panels do not come in contact with said rivets; substantiallyas and for the purposes above set forth. I

7. A folding box consisting of flcxiblyconnected front, bottom, and backpanels, each ofsaid panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-tapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the end flapsto the front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel; headed rivets secured to and projecting from the flaps ofthe bottom panel near the ends of said flaps, perforations near the endsof the flaps of the front and back panels through which said rivets areadapted to project; and a handle adapted to be removably attached to andto connect the projecting rivets on the opposite ends of the box whenset up.

8. Afolding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, bottom, and backpanels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-tapering end flaps, the lines of connection of the end flapsto the front and back panels being diagonal and converging away from thebottom panel; headed rivets secured to and projecting from the flaps ofthe bottom panel near the ends of said flaps, perforations near the endsof the flaps of the front and back panels through which said rivets areadapted to project; and a handle having at each end a frame containing aslot which for part'of its length is of less width than the diameter ofthe head of the rivet, but which at one place is of slightly-greaterdiameter than said head, and aspring-tongue, whereby the ends of saidhandle may be removably attached to said rivets.

9. A folding box consisting of flexibly-connected front, bottom and backpanels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-extending end flaps, headed rivets secured to and projectingfrom the flaps of the bottom panel near the ends of said flaps,perforations formed near the ends of the flaps of the frontand backpanels through which said rivets are adapted to project and a handlehaving at each end a frame containing a slot which for part of itslength is of less Width than the diameter of the head of the rivet butwhich at one place is of slightlygreater diameter than said head and aspringtongue whereby the ends of said handle may be removably attachedto said rivets.

10. A folding box consisting of flexibly-counected front, bottom andback panels, each of said panels having flexibly connected theretooutwardly-extending end flaps, headed rivets secured to and projectingfrom the flaps of the bottom panel near the ends of said flaps, therebeing perforations formed near the end of the flaps of the front andback panels through which said rivets are adapted to project and ahandle formed of flexible material having at each end a frame containinga slot which for part of its length is of less width than the diameterof the heads of the rivets, but which at one place is of slightlygreaterdiameter than said heads, a springtongue and a projection formed on saidtongue extending from the plane of the same for manually moving saidtongue whereby the ends of said handle may be removably attached to saidrivets.

11. The combination of a folding box having panels and end flaps, theend flaps at each end having a headed rivet to hold the same togetherwhen the box is set up; and a flexi ble handle having at each end aslotted frame, as F, and having a headed rivet projecting from itssurface, whereby said handle may be attached to the headed rivets on theend flaps; or may be used as a band to encircle the box when folded, theslotted frame in one end of the handle in such case engaging with theheaded rivet on the surface of said handle, substantially as set forth.

JOHN UNSER.

Witnesses:

T. P. MANLEY, S. H. GALLAGHER.

